purchase

[ pur-chuhs ]

/ ˈpɜr tʃəs /

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verb (used with object), pur·chased, pur·chas·ing.

to acquire by the payment of money or its equivalent; buy.

to acquire by effort, sacrifice, flattery, etc.

to influence by a bribe.

to be sufficient to buy: Twenty dollars purchases a subscription.

Law. to acquire (land or other property) by means other than inheritance.

to move, haul, or raise, especially by applying mechanical power.

to get a leverage on; apply a lever, pulley, or other aid to.

Obsolete. to procure, acquire, or obtain.

verb (used without object), pur·chased, pur·chas·ing.

to buy something.

noun

acquisition by the payment of money or its equivalent; buying, or a single act of buying.

something that is purchased or bought.

something purchased, with respect to value in relation to price; buy: At three for a dollar they seemed like a good purchase.

Law. the acquisition of land or other property by means other than inheritance.

acquisition by means of effort, labor, etc.: the purchase of comfort at the price of freedom.

a lever, pulley, or other device that provides mechanical advantage or power for moving or raising a heavy object.

an effective hold or position for applying power in moving or raising a heavy object; leverage.

any means of applying or increasing power, influence, etc.

the annual return or rent from land.

a firm grip or grasp, footing, etc., on something.

Obsolete. booty.

Nearby words

purcell mountains, purcell, henry, purchas, purchas, samuel, purchasable, purchase, purchase ledger, purchase tax, purchaser, purchasing agent, purchasing power

Origin of purchase

before 1150; (v.) Middle English purchasen < Anglo-French purchacer to seek to obtain, procure (Old French pourchacier), equivalent to pur- (< Latin prō pro¹) + chacer to chase¹; (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French purchas (Old French porchas), derivative of the v.

SYNONYMS FOR purchase

1 get, obtain, procure.

15 winch, capstan.

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ANTONYMS FOR purchase

1 sell.

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Related forms

pur·chas·er, nounmis·pur·chase, verb (used with object), mis·pur·chased, mis·pur·chas·ing.non·pur·chase, nounnon·pur·chas·er, noun

o·ver·pur·chase, verb (used with object), o·ver·pur·chased, o·ver·pur·chas·ing.pre·pur·chase, noun, verb (used with object), pre·pur·chased, pre·pur·chas·ing.pre·pur·chas·er, nounqua·si-pur·chased, adjectiveun·pur·chased, adjective

Synonym study

1. See buy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for purchase

They were able to purchase weapons and plot attacks on the island without much interference.
Of Cuban Spies, a Baby, and a Filmmaker: The Strange Tale of the Cuban Five|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When my husband and I asked to see the report, we were told we could purchase the report for $30,000 from the defense.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Which is why in 1961, the distillery finally decided to purchase the estate and its adjoining home.
Ester Elchies, The Estate Built By Whiskey||December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Customers can purchase cold beer at full price or warm bottles of beer at retail prices to take home.
House of the Witch: The Renegade Craft Brewers of Panama|Jeff Campagna|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

A limited number of medical patients will be able to purchase “Chunky Diesel” or “Alien Dawg” for just $100.
Colorado Weed Dispensaries Celebrate ‘Green Friday’|Abby Haglage|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hadn't we better go up to the town and purchase a few rifles and some ammunition?
A Bid for Fortune|Guy Boothby
Freeman is now endeavoring to raise money to make the purchase.
The Narrative of Lunsford Lane, Formerly of Raleigh, N.C.|Lunsford Lane
I wonder if they would let me purchase her and give her the freedom which belongs to every one of God's creatures.
Mabel's Mistake|Ann S. Stephens
He had not thought it worth his while to purchase freedom by a confession, merely to drag out a miserable existence.
The Red Lottery Ticket|Fortun Du Boisgobey
The Count was made supremely happy with the purchase of a holy picture which he declared was from the brush of an old master.
Polly and Her Friends Abroad|Lillian Elizabeth Roy

British Dictionary definitions for purchase

purchase

/ (ˈpɜːtʃɪs) /

verb (tr)

to obtain (goods, etc) by payment

to obtain by effort, sacrifice, etcto purchase one's freedom

to draw, haul, or lift (a load) with the aid of mechanical apparatus

to acquire (an estate) other than by inheritance

noun

something that is purchased, esp an article bought with money

the act of buying

acquisition of an estate by any lawful means other than inheritance

a rough measure of the mechanical advantage achieved by a lever

a firm foothold, grasp, etc, as for climbing or levering something

a means of achieving some influence, advantage, etc

Derived Formspurchaser, noun

Word Origin for purchase

C13: from Old French porchacier to strive to obtain, from por- for + chacier to chase 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for purchase (1 of 2)

purchase

c.1300, "acquire, obtain; get, receive; procure, provide," also "accomplish or bring about; instigate; cause, contrive, plot; recruit, hire," from Anglo-French purchaser "go after," Old French porchacier "search for, procure; purchase; aim at, strive for, pursue eagerly" (11c., Modern French pourchasser), from pur- "forth" (possibly used here as an intensive prefix; see pur-) + Old French chacier "run after, to hunt, chase" (see chase (v.)).

Originally to obtain or receive as due in any way, including through merit or suffering; specific sense of "acquire for money, pay money for, buy" is from mid-14c., though the word continued to be used for "to get by conquest in war, obtain as booty" up to 17c. Related: Purchased; purchasing.

Word Origin and History for purchase (1 of 2)

purchase

c.1300, purchas, "acquisition, gain;" also, "something acquired or received, a possession; property, goods;" especially "booty, spoil; goods gained by pillage or robbery" (to make purchase was "to seize by robbery"). Also "mercenary soldier, one who fights for booty." From Anglo-French purchace, Old French porchaz "acquisition, gain, profit; seizing, plunder; search pursuit, effort," from Anglo-French purchaser, Old French porchacier (see purchase (v.)).

From early 14c. as "endeavor, effort, exertion; instigation, contrivance;" late 14c. as "act of acquiring, procurement." Meaning "that which is bought" is from 1580s. The sense of "hold or position for advantageously applying power" (1711) is extended from the nautical verb meaning "to haul or draw (especially by mechanical power)," often used in reference to hauling up anchors, attested from 1560s. Wif of purchase (early 14c.) was a term for "concubine."

purchase

verb (used with object), pur·chased, pur·chas·ing.

verb (used without object), pur·chased, pur·chas·ing.

noun

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Origin of purchase

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for purchase

British Dictionary definitions for purchase

purchase

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for purchase

Word Origin and History for purchase (1 of 2)

purchase

Word Origin and History for purchase (1 of 2)

purchase